A new vaccine developed by Stanford medicine could provide protection from respiratory viruses, bacteria, allergens – even the common cold.
In a study in mice, the “nearly universal” vaccine (GLA-3M-052-LS+OVA), which is delivered intranasally (e.g., through a nasal spray), provided at least 3 months of broad protection against respiratory viruses – including Covid; bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus; and dust mite allergens.
The vaccine differs from traditional ones in that, rather than targeting specific pathogens, its formulation combines “toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and 7/8 ligands with a model antigen, ovalbumin” for broad, durable protection. In simpler words, rather than mimicking any part of a pathogen, “it mimics the signals that immune cells use to communicate with each other during an infection,” thus integrating the two branches of immunity — innate and adaptive — “creating a feedback loop that sustains a broad immune response.”
Integrating innate immunity also enables nearly immediate deployment against an infection while the adaptive immunity enables the longer-term response.
The researchers intend to test the vaccine in humans next, beginning with a Phase I safety trial, then, if successful, in a larger trial in which vaccinated people are exposed to infections. Two doses of a nasal spray are expected to be sufficient for human protection. It is unlikely, however, that the vaccine would be available until the 2030s, but once proven and approved, it could protect and new pandemics and replace current seasonal vaccination shots.
COVID Risk Matrix:
Influenza:
Public Health News:
- In February, authorities in Spain reported a confirmed human case of swine influenza A(H1N1). Four human cases of this same swine influenza A have been reported from Spain in the past 17 years with the last case reported in 2024. Based on the information currently available, the likelihood of further transmission of variant A(H1N1) linked to this event is assessed to be very low.
- The European CDC concluded that there were no major public health events related to communicable diseases at the recently concluded winter Olympics, likely due to the effectiveness of preventive measures. Limited outbreaks were reported among athletes related to gastrointestinal and influenza-like illnesses.
- A locally acquired measles case in New Taipei City in Taiwan has triggered a large public health response, with over 500 contacts currently under monitoring. Measles is not common in Taiwan due to high vaccination rates, with an average of only 10 cases reported annually.
- An investigation into a Salmonella Agbeni outbreak at the 2024 Illinois county fair linked the illness to contaminated ice in a beer cooler in which cans were stored. It was revealed that the cooler was not effectively cleaned and sanitized and some workers at the beer tent also suffered from salmonellosis, though it is not known whether they contributed to the contamination or picked it from the dirty cooler. The key role of development and implementation of standardized hygiene protocols was emphasized.
- Researchers at Stanford University have developed an experimental nasal spray vaccine that in mouse studies, protects against a broad range of respiratory threats, including COVID-19, the flu, and bacterial pneumonia. It acts in a novel way from a standard vaccine, which prepares the immune system to recognize and react quickly to the real pathogen. This new approach mimics the signals that immune cells use to communicate with each other during an infection that can lead to a broad immune response.
- The recent revocation of federal greenhouse gas regulations in the US is expected to increase emissions, leading to more frequent heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts and could lead to environmental and global health threats. The WHO in 2023 communicated benefits of reducing greenhouse gases – see chart at this link. And the US CDC has stated that climate change impacts health including leading to increases in diarrheal diseases, threats to food security, and influences of temperature extremes.
